Wrist band illuminating device



Jan. 7, 1964 G. c. NEUGEBAUER 3,116,383

WRIST BAND ILLUMINATING DEVICE Original Filed April 18. 1961 GERHARDT 6.NEUGEBAUER ATTORNEY EN 1 R 5a INV O United States Patent 3,116,883 WRISTBAND ILLUMENATING DEVIQE Gerhardt Christian Neugehauer, 1924) Main St,Sturgis, S. Bait.

Original application Apr. 18, 1%1, Ser. No. 103,877, new Patent No.3,078,364, dated Feb. 19, 1963. Divided and this appiication Aug. 1,W62, Ser. No. 215,4t)

4- Claiins. (U. Mil-6.43)

This invention relates to an illuminating device for wrist bands andconsists more particularly in new and useful improvements in a devicedesigned to form an integral part of a wrist watch band or similararticle and adapted to illuminate the dial of the watch or other objectwhen required, the present application being a division of applicationSerial No. 103,877, filed April 18, 1961, now Patent Number 3,078,364.

An object of the invention is to provide an illuminating device of thischaracter which is convenient for the wearer, easy to operate andadaptable to various sizes and shapes to conform to the particularstyling of the wrist band, bracelet or other article, and which, whennot in operation, is not only inconspicuous but can be designed toenhance the eye appeal of the article.

Another object of the invention is to provide an illuminating devicewhich is energized by replaceable, selfcontained batteries or anysuitable energy cells and which may be actuated by a simple flip of thewearers finger.

Still another object of the invention and one of great importance todrivers of motor vehicles, is to provide a wrist watch illuminatingdevice which is easily operable by a driver who frequently finds itnecessary when driving at night to ascertain the time. Experience hasshown that the vast majority of wrist watches equipped with luminousdials are either difficult to see at night or require a dangerous periodof eye focusing to read the time.

Other advantages of the present invention wherein a small bulb isenergized by a suitable battery or energy cell, reside in theelimination of radiation danger which is recognized to exist in certainwatches provided with luminous dials and also the elimination of hazardsfor watch manufacturers when working on watches having luminous dials.

While the invention is primarily designed for wrist watch hands, it willbe understood that it can be equally useful for wrist compasses, ladiesbracelets, identification bracelets and numerous other adaptations.

With the above and other objects in view which will appear as thedescription proceeds, the invention consists in the novel featuresherein set forth, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and moreparticularly pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings in which numerals of like character designatesimilar parts throughout the several views:

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of one form of the inventionwherein the bulb itself is projectible and retractible;

FIGURE 2 is a similar view showing the bulb holding member in projectedposition;

FIGURE 3 is a longitudinal sectional view taken through the device shownin FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 4 is a similar view showing the light projecting device inprojected position;

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on line 5-5 of FIGURE 3;and

FIGURE 6 is a wiring diagram which may be embodied in the device shownin FIGURES l5 inclusive.

As previously stated, the illuminating device of the present inventionmay be embodied in a wrist band for various uses and for purposes ofillustration, the accompanying drawings show the device installed as apart of a wrist Watch band.

Referring to FIGURES l and 2, the illuminating device may comprise ahousing a which is contoured to form a part of a conventional wristwatch band 16 and designed to be connected to an adjacent link of thewrist Watch band at one end by any suitable means (not shown) and at theother end, to a wristwatch 17, as at 18. The housing 15a is providedwith a bottom wall 19, side walls 2th: and end walls 21a, and one endthereof is enclosed by a top wall 22a which only partially covers theinterior of the housing, leaving a top opening 45.

A slidably projectible light directing member 40 fits within the opening45 in housing 15a and comprises a hood-like shell of thin metalcorresponding in character to that of the wrist watch band 16 and thewatch 17. This shell includes a top wall 4-1, side walls 42, and a rearend wall 43, its forward end being open and the forward edges of theside walls 42 being curved or inclined upwardly and forwardly as at 44,to form runners as will later appear.

The rear portion of the shell 4% is designed to contain a battery orenergy cell 24:: which may be retained in place by any suitable means,and is connected to the socl et 26 of a light bulb a mounted in theforward end of shell with the bulb directed forwardly. The opening inthe top wall 22a of the housing 15a is of a size and shape toaccommodate the shell 49 so that when the latter is retracted Within thehousing, its upper wall 4-1 closes the opening 45 in the housing as seenin FIGURE 1.

At the rear of the shell 49, its side walls 42 are provided withlaterally projecting lugs 46 (FIGURE 5) adapted to run in longitudinallyextending guide tracks 47 on the corresponding side walls Zita of thehousing 15a. Thus, when the shell 4i) is shifted forwardly in thehousing 15a, its runners 44 engage the forward boundary of the opening45 and cause the forward end of the shell at) to ride upwardly andproject over the dial of the wrist watch 17 as shown in FIGURE 2. Aknurled area 48 may be provided on the top Wall 41 of the lightdirecting shell to facilitate its forward shifting, the rear end of saidshell being slidably retained within the housing 15a by the lugs 46 andtrackway 47 so that when the shell 49 is retracted, its forward end willautomatically fall in place within the housing.

Any suitable support means, such as a normally contracted coil spring 49connected between ears 5i? and 51 on adjacent end walls of the housing15a and the hoodlike member il, may be employed for retaining the lightdirecting shell 44) within the housing 15a and for retracting the shellfrom its operative position. A switch 2% may be interposed in thecircuit 27a and designed to close the electric circuit upon theprojection of the shell 41). This switch is normally in open positionand so located that upon engagement by one of the lugs 46 at thecompletion of its forward travel in the trackway 47, it will close thecircuit, thus energizing the bulb 25a.

With this form of the invention, it will be apparent that uponengagement of the wearers finger or thumb with the knurled portion 48a,the light directing shell 40 is projected forwardly and upwardly withits forward end and the bulb 25a immediately over the dial of the wristwatch 17, to thereby direct the rays from the light bulb onto the dialof the watch. Upon release of the knurled area 48, the shell 4t? will beautomatically returned to the housing 15a by the action of spring 49.

From the foregoing, it is believed that this invention may be readilyunderstood by those skilled in the art without further description, itbeing borne in mind that numerous changes may be made in the detailsdisclosed aliases without departing from the spirit of the invention asset forth in the following claims.

I claim:

1. A combined wrist watch band and illuminating device comprising ahousing, means for connecting said housing to said Wrist watch band inproximity to a Watch held thereby, a light directing member normallyretracted in said housing and slidably projectible therefrom, said lightdirecting member consisting of a shell, an energy cell contained in saidshell, a light bulb at the forward end of said shell operativelyconnected to said energy cell, guide means for directing the slidingmovement of said shell upwardly and forwardly from said housing toposition said light bulb over the face of said wrist watch, and electriccontact means operable upon the projection of said shell for energizingsaid bulb.

2. The combination as claimed in claim 1, including guide meansoperatively connected to the rear end of said shell for retaining saidrear end within said housing during projection and retraction of theforward end of said shell.

3. The combination as claimed in claim 2, including means at the forwardend of said shell for directing its projection forwardly and upwardlyover said wrist watch.

4. The combination as claimed in claim 3, including spring means forretracting said shell into said housing.

References Qited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS3,018,614 Brien Jan. 30, 1962 3,025,662 Fleishman et al Mar. 20, 1962FOREIGN PATENTS 343,921 Switzerland Feb. 29,1960

1. A COMBINED WRIST WATCH BAND AND ILLUMINATING DEVICE COMPRISING AHOUSING, MEANS FOR CONNECTING SAID HOUSING TO SAID WRIST WATCH BAND INPROXIMITY TO A WATCH HELD THEREBY, A LIGHT DIRECTING MEMBER NORMALLYRETRACTED IN SAID HOUSING AND SLIDABLY PROJECTIBLE THEREFROM, SAID LIGHTDIRECTING MEMBER CONSISTING OF A SHELL, AN ENERGY CELL CONTAINED IN SAIDSHELL, A LIGHT BULB AT THE FORWARD END OF SAID SHELL OPERATIVELYCONNECTED TO SAID ENERGY CELL, GUIDE MEANS FOR DIRECTING THE SLIDINGMOVEMENT OF SAID SHELL UPWARDLY AND FORWARDLY FROM SAID HOUSING TOPOSITION SAID LIGHT BULB OVER THE FACE OF SAID WRIST WATCH, AND ELECTRICCONTACT MEANS OPERABLE UPON THE PROJECTION OF SAID SHELL FOR ENERGIZINGSAID BULB.